Short-term disability benefits are available to you soon after you have become disabled. In general, the waiting period for applying for short-term disability benefits is between 0 and 2 weeks. An insurance company can provide short-term disability benefits, but more often, such benefits are paid by your employer directly.

Long-term disability benefits, on the other hand, usually only commence following a three to six-month waiting period and may be payable for months or even years, depending on the nature of your disability. If you're navigating a long-term disability claim, our team can help you understand your rights. You don't pay us anything upfront, we only get paid if we win your case. Schedule a free consultation with our team today and get clarity on your options.

No, it is not. Employment insurance sick benefits is a short-term insurance program offered to claimants who have paid into the employment insurance program and are prevented from working at their occupation due to injury or medical condition. The waiting period under private or group long-term disability insurance (that is, the period you must wait before you are eligible for benefits) is often several months and varies based on the policy.

Moreover, long-term disability plans may cover you for many years and often provide coverage through age 65. Employment Insurance has a two-week waiting period. And then you were entitled to receive benefits for only 15 weeks. However, the federal government has recently signalled its intention to increase unemployment insurance sick benefits coverage from 15 to 26 weeks.

Understanding which type of coverage applies to you, and for how long, can be confusing. Our long-term disability lawyers can help you make sense of your specific policy. We take these cases on contingency, so there are no upfront fees. We're only paid if we win or your claim settles successfully. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and get clarity on your options.

No, long-term disability insurance is not the same thing as the Canada Pension Plan disability insurance. Private insurance companies typically offer long-term disability insurance under a contract with your employer to pay you a fixed percentage of your wage while you are disabled. The federal government offers the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability insurance program. It pays a certain amount considering the period over which you have paid into the CPP program. To be eligible for CPP benefits, you must have a mental or physical disability that regularly prevents you from doing any type of substantially gainful work, have a disability that is prolonged or of indefinite duration, or is likely to result in death. 

Understanding which program applies to your situation can be confusing, and the eligibility rules are different for each. If you're dealing with a denied long-term disability insurance claim, our long-term disability lawyers can help. We take these cases on contingency, so there are no upfront fees. We're only paid if we win or your claim settles successfully. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and get clarity on your options.

When people experience physical disabilities, it is generally easier to “see” the disability. Wearing a cast, using a walking aid such as a cane or walker, or having visible scarring are some examples of objective signs of disability. When a disability is not evident, such as mental health and chronic pain, it is harder to prove that an individual is suffering or incapable of working.

Whether your disability is visible or not, our long-term disability lawyers can build a strong case for you. You don't pay us anything upfront, we only get paid if we win your case. Talk to our team in a free consultation about what you're going through.

Although each individual policy has unique terms and requirements, there are four general criteria an long-term disability policyholder must meet to qualify for benefits:

• The claimant has a serious physical or mental condition;
  
• The condition in question is expected to last for at least one year or longer;
  
• The condition in question impairs the claimant’s ability to perform the duties of their current job;
  
• The claimant is up-to-date on paying their policy premiums.

Meeting these criteria can be more complicated than it looks, our long-term disability lawyers can help you build your case. You don't pay us anything upfront, we only get paid if we win your case. Concerned about how your policy applies to you? Bring your questions to a free consultation with our team.

Long-term disability policies exist to protect individuals who are unable to work due to a disability or illness by providing an income replacement benefit after regular sick leave and short-term disability benefits are exhausted. If you cannot work due to illness, accident, or injury for an extended period, you may qualify for long-term disability benefits through your employer's insurer or through your own private policy. Every long-term disability insurance policy is different.

To qualify for long-term disability benefits, you will have to meet the eligibility criteria outlined in your policy. This will include meeting the definition of “disability” that is described in your insurance policy and whether your disability prevents you from returning to your job or "any job".

These definitions can be hard to interpret alone, our long-term disability lawyers can help you make sense of your policy. You don't pay us anything upfront, we only get paid if we win your case. Reach out for a free consultation to go over the details.

If the following two scenarios sound familiar, then you may need a long-term disability lawyer:

1. Your insurance claim for long-term disability benefits was originally approved by your insurer, paid for some period, and then denied or terminated.
2. You have been fighting with your long-term disability insurer for months or even years over its denial of your long-term disability claim, and you have gotten nowhere but frustrated and sick.
   

If either of these sounds like you, our long-term disability lawyers can help you find a way forward. You don't pay us anything upfront, we only get paid if we win your case. If you'd like to talk it through, a free consultation is available.

Generally, there are no costs to our clients throughout the course of litigation. Our firm carries the cost of litigation and any disbursements. When your matter is resolved either through settlement or at trial, our firm will take a portion of the settlement for our fees and disbursements. Our lawyers will explain the retainer and fee arrangements clearly at the initial consultation. We believe that you should not need to be independently wealthy to access justice for harm caused to you.

Visit our Expertise page to learn more about the types of cases we handle, or read more about our no-fee guarantee in detail.

With 60 years of experience helping personal injury victims and their families, Gluckstein Personal Injury Lawyers have earned our place as a Top 10 ranked personal injury law firm in Canada. If we take your case, it is because we believe that there is a reasonable chance that we can help you to receive financial compensation for your injuries or disabilities. Read our testimonials to learn more about our commitment to full-circle care and how we put our clients first.

We work on contingency, so there's no fee unless we win. Schedule a free consultation to find out if we can help with your case.

If you have suffered an injury due to the fault of another it is important to know your rights before making any big decisions. When you contact Gluckstein Personal Injury Lawyers for your no-obligation free consultation, we will help explain the various options you have based on your unique circumstances.

Our personal injury lawyers can walk you through what to expect from the process. We work on contingency, so there's no fee unless we win.

When you've suffered a serious injury you may find yourself feeling confused, scared, or unsure of what to do. Regardless of how you were injured, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help answer many of the questions you may have.

Gluckstein Personal Injury Lawyers will listen to your story with great empathy and explain your rights and options. If you or a loved one were hurt in a motor vehicle accident, as a result of the negligence of a property owner, or by a medical professional, you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation and damages. Trust our team to help you make an informed decision about what to do next so you can move forward confidently.

We work on contingency, so there's no fee unless we win. Schedule a free consultation to learn about your options.

Litigation is a long process and every case is different. There are common stages to all Ontario personal injury actions, including:

• Starting a lawsuit (issuing a statement of claim): This must be done within two years of the date of the incident.
• Examinations for discovery: This generally occurs within about a year of the commencement of the lawsuit.
• Mediation: This generally occurs within about a year of the Examinations for Discovery.
• Pre-trial conference: This can occur within about a year of the Mediation.
• Trial: This can occur anywhere from 3 to 5 years after the lawsuit has been started.

A claim can settle at any point throughout this timeline.

Every case is different, and our personal injury lawyers can give you a clearer picture based on your specific situation. A lengthy process shouldn't mean a costly one, our fees only come due if we secure your compensation. If you're wondering what this could look like for your case, reach out to our team to schedule a free consultation.

Depending on the nature of your personal injury claim, there are a number of issues to be assessed. Broadly, a claim will involve three elements: (1) liability, (2) causation, and (3) damages.

Feel free to contact a member of our firm for a free consultation to understand how your situation fits within these categories. Our personal injury lawyers can review the details of your case and help you understand where you stand. We work on contingency, so there's no fee unless we win.